_2nd Prophet._ A wonderful marvel, How that may be, And far doth excel-- All our capacity, How that the trinity, Of so high regality, Should joined be, Unto our mortality. _1st Prophet._ Of his one great mercy As ye shall see the exposition, Through whose humanity all Adam's progeny Redeemed shall be Out of perdition; Sith man did offend, who should amend, But the said man and no other; For the which cause he, Incarnate would be, And live in misery As man's one brother. _2nd Prophet._ Sir, upon the Deity, I believe perfectly, Impossible to be, there is nothing; Howbeit this work, unto me is dark, In the operation or working. _1st Prophet._ What more reproof is unto belief Than to be doubting. _2nd Prophet._ Yet doubts ofttimes hath derivation. _1st Prophet._ That is by the means of communication, Of truths to have a due probation,-- By the same doubts, reasoning. _2nd Prophet._ Then to you, this one thing, Of what noble and high lineage is she, That might this verible prince's mother be? _1st Prophet._ Undoubted she is come of high parrage,[234] Of the house of David, and Solomon the sage, And one of the same line joined to her by marriage Of whose tribe, we do subscribe This child's lineage. _2nd Prophet._ And why in that wise? _1st Prophet._ For it was the guise To count the parent on the man's line, And not on the feminine, Amongst us here in Israel. _2nd Prophet._ Yet can I not espy, by no wise How this child born should be without nature's prejudice. _1st Prophet._ Nay, no prejudice unto nature I dare well say, For the king of nature may Have all his one will, Did not the power of God, make Aaron's rod Bear fruit in one day? _2nd Prophet._ Truth it is indeed. _1st Prophet._ Then look you and rede.[235] _2nd Prophet._ Ah! I perceive the seed Whereupon that you spake, It was for our need That he frail nature did take, And his blood he should shed Amends for to make For our transgression, As it is said in prophecy, that of the line of Judë Should spring a right Messië, By whom all we Should have redemption. _1st Prophet._ Sir, now is the time come, And the date thereof run Of his Nativity. _2nd Prophet._ Yet I beseech you heartily, That ye would show me how That this strange novelty Were brought unto you? _1st Prophet._ This other night so cold, Hereby upon a wold, Shepherds watching their fold In the night so far, To them appeared a star, And ever it drew them near, Which star they did behold, Brighter they say a thousand fold Than the sun so clear In his midday sphere; And they these tidings told. _2nd Prophet._ What, secretly? _1st Prophet._ Na, na, hardily,[236] They made there of no council, For they sang as loud, As ever they could, Praising the king of Israel. _2nd Prophet._ Yet do I marvel, In what pile or castle, These herdmen did him see.